Creation of Schiefflan Plan+Blame

• The Schiefflan Plan information:
• .The position of Germany in Europe meant that if there was ever a major European war it might have to fight a ‘two front’ war- this would mean splitting its army in half to fight on two sides
• .In 1894 France and Russia signed the Franco-Russian alliance- if Germany ever fought a war against these two major powers there would now definitely be ‘two front’ war
• .In 1897 General Alfred Von Schiefflan was asked to come up with a strategy to prevent fighting a war on two fronts
• .Von Schieffen’s plan involved attacking France first as they would be quicker to mobilise their army. They would take France by surprise by attacking through Belgium. Von Schieffen believed the massive Russian army would take much longer to mobilise and he thought he could defeat France quickly enough to turn all their attention on Russia
• what was the importance of the Schlieffan plan in causing WW1?

  When the plan was launched in August 1914 it altered the chain reaction of the ‘July Crisis’. It prevented any negotiations between the major powers and officially started the war. It also forced Britain into the conflict as Britain had an alliance with Belgium
• Why is Germany to blame for the First World War?

  .Weltpolitik ambitions. .’Blank Cheque‘ to Austria during July Crisis. .Schiefflan Plan and attacking France-2nd August
• Why is Britain to blame for the First World War?

  .Anglo-German naval race. .Focused on protecting Empire-Morocco etc. increased rivalry. .Nationalism
• Why is Austria-Hungary to blame for the First World War?

  .Annexing Bosnia in 1911. .Aggressive reaction to Serbia and Russia after assassinations. .Using German support.
• Why was Russia to blame for the First World War?


  -involvement in Balkans Crisis 1911. -Aggressive support for Serbia after assassination
• why was Serbia to blame for the First World War?


  -Assassination-black hand leader Apis linked to government. -Refused Austrian ultimatum-23rd July
• why was everyone to blame for the First World War?


  -Alliance System. -Nationalism and Imperialism. -Lack of diplomacy
• Why was there a lack of diplomacy 


  There was no regular meeting of countries in an organisation to prevent war. The Concert of Europe had been set up as an informal meeting of countries to do just this, when Britain proposed one in 1914 Germany encouraged Austria-Hungary to refuse